do ball pythons bite humans

The father came into the room and found the snake wrapped around the boy’s ankle, trying to eat his foot. Most of the bites reported by breeders come from hatchlings, babies, and juveniles. But if it had wrapped around the child’s neck for some reason, it could’ve cut off his airway by constricting. But there are some risks you should know about. Their bites are usually the last resort for a snake that feels threatened, whether the human intentionally invades a snake’s space or not. Babies are another story. The easiest way to do so is by buying one or more of the fixtures discussed earlier, but instead of using a heat lamp bulb, use compact fluorescent bulbs instead. An adult ball python bite will hurt a little more, nothing worse than a dog or cat bite. But a handful of species do grow large enough to constrict and kill their owners. I cooked my boyfriend breakfast before work and me and hades got into bed. Thankfully, that did not happen. A lot of owners are nervous that their pet snake may eventually bite them. You are being diligent and responsible by researching this topic in advance, before bringing a new pet into your home. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; learn more here. So we’ve address your first question, can a ball python kill a human? Ball pythons are relatively small snakes, and the wounds their bites cause are usually very minor. What can trigger them to even bite in the first place? He was due for a feeding and ge was snifging around in thw air as i was falling asleep. Are there any other risks we should know about?”. Learn more about My Pet Python here. The snake belonged to a neighbor. Does It Hurt And Can It Be Stopped. Ball pythons, Corn snakes and California kingsnakes are nearly always well behaved. African rock pythons and reticulated pythons fall into this category. Why is my corn snake soaking in his water bowl lately. In 2012, there was a story on ABC News about a baby who was attacked by a ball python just of his (the child’s) first birthday. Ball pythons can also become easily stressed when the temperature or the humidity in their enclosure is not where it should be. The answer is YES! A python may exhibit different behavior based on circumstance. Other than threat hunger is one of the important factors behind snake bites. However, they rarely ever attack humans. It’s not a silly question at all. Snake Care Tip: Cover the Screen Lid of a Glass Cage, Where to Buy Feeder Mealworms for Reptile Food. (2) A baby might be unable to simply remove the snake from its neck, as an older child or an adult would do. My hades spends a lot of time with me, we even nap together. Here we share how we change the behavior of ball pythons that want to strike, and how we pick them up. I wore gloves to move her, as she tried to strike at me. All rights reserved. Biting is also the snake’s best way to catch its food, and so snake bites on humans often occur due to the snake confusing a hand for a meal. Asked by Wiki User. Sometimes, you will barely even feel it. If you have recently cooked with with meat, chicken stock, chicken broth, or anything else of that nature, you may still smell like the meat that you handled. Haha! She has always been a good eater but even after eating she continued to be restless and she became aggressive towards me! Snakes do not bite humans unprovoked. The simple answer to this is yes. They do not typically attack humans, but will bite and possibly constrict if they feel threatened, or mistake a hand for food. I was finally able to clean her tank this morning. These snakes are considered to be too small to kill an adult human. These include the reticulated and Burmese pythons, along with a few other species. It’s highly unlikely. All pythons are non-venomous, and most of them pose no threat to humans. Even though ball pythons do not require special lighting, many keepers like to provide enclosure lighting to make the habitat and animal look their best. Yes, ball pythons can bite. The Reticulated Pythons is also docile, but due to its size, it is more dangerous. I hope you and Havana are well. Your email address will not be published. Needless to say, he got dinner and a snack that day…i dont want a hungry snake on my hands…er, feet (wink)! The reason was that I had always kept her cage very clean but when I had knee replacement surgery I wasn’t able to keep up with her cage and it had become littered with feces and spilled water from her dish had left a corner of her cage damp. But getting back to your number-one question. Not for you or the snake. The second reason a ball python may bite is because theyre feeling stressed and are trying to defend themselves, their eggs, or their food. © 2019, Reptile Knowledge. I can add one other circumstance under which a normally docile ball python might become aggressive. But don’t worry, the bites don’t hurt too much! In other circumstances, if the ball python was recently frightened, by say a shake or a thud, he or she may have been put on edge, causing him or her to strike at you when you try getting near. Luckily, i had a glass of water and when i wet his face he removed his teeth. No, they are considered incapable of killing a human child or adult through constriction. These snakes are not big enough to … But don’t worry, it is usually not a big deal – especially for those who keep ball pythons. Actually, the threat of bacterial infection applies to a wide variety of pets, including dogs, cats, rodents and birds. Ball pythons will only bite on occasions they feel very threatened. Wiki User Answered . Pain from a ball python bite varies based on the situation and the person being bitten. Everyone knows that snake fangs are an impressive sight!. It’s important to try to identify the cause for why a snake may have bitten, especially when such behaviour happens repeatedly. Do Ball Pythons Bite? Let me start with the short answer. How Big Do Ball Pythons Get? The best way to avoid bites, is to avoid giving your ball python a reason to bite you. Most of the time, ball pythons, specifically, are not harmful to humans. Heat Mat Thermostat Controller. If you pick them up the wrong way or try to hold them in a manner they dislike, they may also try to strike at you. Week after week she became more active than usual and I thought she was hungry. If the ball python loses a tooth when biting, don’t worry, it’s nothing to be concerned about. Ok so we know our pet snake has the hardware and ability to bite but is it any real danger to us humans. During their hunting process, ball pythons won’t bite their prey first. Ball pythons bite rarely. There are three overarching reasons for a ball python biting or attempting to bite a human: temperament, stress, and mistaking a hand for food. my gf is scared to touch him what are the chances of getting bit? He's the author of the ball python care guide as well as the horror-thriller novel Purgatory. there is a typo in your article. However ball pythons are not malicious and there will always be a reason for a bite. Their bites are thought to be incredibly painful or even deadly. I also have a cat blog, as well as blogs on a slew of other topics. If a ball python smells the food on your skin, they are very likely to mistaken your hand or arm for food, causing them to strike at you. I dropped a small hand towel on her head, which caused her to ball, so I could move her to rest at the bottom of a tall empty garbage can while I cleaned her tank. Under very rare circumstances, ball pythons may truly believe a part of your hand is food, and therefore may refuse to release their grasp on your hand. It only bites when the snake feels any king of threat from the person. Have you ever wondered what you should do if a snake bites you? Respuesta Guardar. However, even before your ball python will strike a bite, it might have given you some warning signs which you didn’t notice. In all honesty a ball pythons bite does not hurt to much. We’ve all seen horror movies with giant serpents and venomous killers. Even so, younger ball pythons are more capable of biting than their adult counterparts. A ball python does not usually bite the handler. A baby ball pythons bite will not hurt much. Apparently it escaped its enclosure and eventually found its way into the baby’s crib. i got a balled python and i just ed it about 4 hours ago can i hold it yet or will it bite at all I hope this answers your question, and I wish you all the best if and when you decide to bring a ball python into your home. The great thing is ball pythons aren’t venomous, so you are not in too much danger. Ball pythons are very docile as a species. Do ball pythons bite humans? Top Answer. 23 24 25. Generally speaking, these are fairly docile snakes that tend to curl up and hide their heads when they feel threatened. In this instance, the snake would have soon realized that it could not ingest the child’s leg. It also requires much more space, effort and experience to care for it properly. Ball Pythons are known to latch on when they bite. Individual ball pythons can be aggressive and attempt to bite their owners. At least none that I’m aware of. In contrast, an adult ball python will only grow to about 3.5 – 4 feet, on average. Now let’s get to your question. At least when it comes to human adults and children. do ball pythons bite ? Filed Under: Ball Python Pet Care, Choosing Your Pet Python, Environment, Handling, Snake Facts. So we’re talking about two different classes of snakes. Ball pythons can bite but they don’t usually attack humans. I washed down all sides of her tank, her log, water dish and replaced the flooring. The first thing they do is wrap their bodies around the prey and squeeze. In order to avoid being bitten in the future, be sure to adjust your behaviour the next time you try to handle the ball python. Although overall, ball pythons are extremely docile creatures that are rarely ever aggressive, there are a few here and there that have particularly bad temperaments. Thanks for pointing out the typo! Although they are typically calm and don’t show temperament, they can bite while eating or if they feel agitated. That means they squeeze their prey. Instead, ball pythons are beginner-friendly snake pets that you should never be afraid of. Hello, I enjoyed reading your article. I suspect she will no longer be aggressive. Usually, the number one reason the keeps people from getting a pet snake is the fact that snakes can bite. Relevancia. If you keep your ball python’s cage clean, and always wash your hands after handling the snake or the cage, you can virtually eliminate the risk of salmonella and other bacterial infections. So let’s talk about those. P.s. Thus, they are not dangerous. However, they rarely ever attack humans. Respuesta preferida. Does My Corn Snake Need A Heat Lamp on Its Cage? Younger ball pythons may be more prone to biting, but even this is unusual. Pythons often eat primates, including monkeys, sometimes orangutans and, seldom, people. Does a ball pythons bite hurt? The bites are nothing that will need emergency attention. These larger species can easily grow beyond 12 feet (in the case of rock pythons), or in excess of 20 feet for reticulated. Anything with teeth can bite. Salmonella and other bacterial infections are also a potential risk when keeping snakes. If you want to keep a member of the Pythonidae family as a pet, you might consider the more manageable ball python. Can you feed your snake when you have them in your hand? The site is a compilation of research I dug up: guides on proper ball python care, tips for choosing a pet python, a variety of snake facts, and many other miscellaneous snake-related articles. Humans often feel anxious about the thought of being bitten by a snake. Fortunately, Dad was able to remove the snake before any serious harm occurred. Can I use aspen shavings as a ball python substrate / bedding? The answer is probably not. Yes, ball pythons can bite. Ball pythons lose teeth quite frequently, and they do grow back with time. They usually will roll up into a tight ball hiding their head when scared/threatened. I wanted a place to share all the tips & advice I dug up while I was researching pet care, hoping the research I did could help others along the way. Balls have very small teeth, and are constrictors. Yes, ball pythons do bite. So I commend you on that. Additionally, they are fairly slender snakes when compared to their “giant” cousins like the Burmese and reticulated. Ball pythons are often feel both uncomfortable and uneasy when theyre in the process of getting ready to shed, so if you can tell that your ball python is g… Hi, I'm Elise! Kaphiovo. These snakes are not big enough to encircle and constrict a grown human. IT HURT! The third reason ball pythons may bite is because they have mistaken a hand for food. Do ball pythons bite? Finally, if you’ve recently actually handled the snake’s food, and try putting your hands into the ball python’s enclosure, even if it’s just to drop in the meal, the snake may try to bite your hand. If you're interested, you can check out my other blogs here. I woke up with the toe next to my big toe, index toe, in his mouth. My toe must have twitched, etc and hades mistook it for food. They do not have venom. I still remember my very first bite. There are some python species that are capable of killing a human — even an adult human. This is because they are non-venomous, constricting snakes. All of these are valid questions for a new snake owner, a long time snake owner, someone who just had kids or friends move into his home where his pet may be housed or just someone wondering. They are simply too small to pose such a threat (with the possible exception of human infants). If you’re asking if a ball python can kill a human by constricting, then the answer is no. Unless you really antagonise them. . Even so, younger ball pythons are more capable of biting than their adult counterparts. Male and Female Average Size. So it probably would’ve just let go and moved along. Pythons bite first and would attack a human in two ways: 1. All pythons are constrictors by nature and they kill by squeezing their prey until it dies. Finally, a ball python will almost always try to defend its food from competition, so sticking your hand into a cage when your ball python is getting ready to feed is not a good idea. Female ball pythons will obviously be extremely aggressive when they’ve just laid eggs, as, like with most mothers, they’re hardwired to protect their young from any potential danger. And good on you for doing your research before getting a new pet! How painful can the bite be? But there are exceptions to this general “rule.” Some ball pythons are aggressive and will bite their keepers if given the chance. This type of behavior can be worked out over time. If you’re sure that you washed your hands really well and that you don’t smell like any type of snake food, the ball python has likely bit in defence due to stress. If you’ve recently handled a pet hamster, mouse, guinea pig, or other rodent, you will also smell like food to a ball python, meaning the snake will almost certainly strike at you if you put your hand in his or her enclosure without washing the smell off first. But there is always a chance you will end up with an aggressive snake. The bite of a ball python should really not hurt very much, although it can of course cause bleeding if it pierces through the skin. It’s really not a good idea to do that. If you’re having difficulty getting a ball python off your hand or finger because it won’t let go, you can place the snake into some cold water, and it will almost immediately release itself. They don’t usually get big enough to even be a threat. hace 1 década. The short answer is yes, they can and do occasionally bite. Its important to keep in mind is that pythons do … © 2020, Brandon Cornett | All rights reserved, Reader question: “I want to get a ball python for a pet, but I am concerned about safety. But there are some other risks associated with these animals. I believe you mean to say “and he or she has never been the vicious ( not viscous) type before, its safe to say you can rule this cause out” unless, of course, you are talking about a very thick, syrupy python. And, even this is uncommon. Plus, you can also damage your Ball Python’s teeth by yanking it off. If you’re asking if a ball python can kill a human by constricting, then the answer is no. Ball pythons are defensive and vulnerable while they are feeding, so it is best to … 12 respuestas. All Rights Reserved.Writing and photography by Elise Xavier. Ball pythons have small inward-sloped teeth. Yet a ball python will release your hand as soon as he or she realizes that your hand is not food as it had suspected. Reasons for Ball Python Bites. They strike quickly and then immobilize the prey but not by using venom. That being said, if it’s your ball python that’s doing the biting, and he or she has never been the vicious type before, it’s safe to say you can rule this cause out. A pet ball python isn't capable of killing a human, but it can injure people with a bite. My advice is to purchase a healthy baby or yearling, so you can shape its behavior as it grows older. However, dogs, cats, parakeets, and hamsters, etc, etc ALL bite! Can pythons bite? She no longer curled up in her log but was constantly moving around the tank inspecting the top. I don’t know, maybe this is sort of a silly question. The second reason a ball python may bite is because they’re feeling stressed and are trying to defend themselves, their eggs, or their food. But there is a remote chance they could kill an infant or young child — at least theoretically. Under these circumstances, the ball python will typically bite a finger, hold it firm, then constrict on the finger. However, a ball python’s bite is not venomous (poisonous). This is why it’s a good idea to use tongs to put the ball python’s food into the enclosure. I am researching on ball pythons in hope that I will eventually be able to own one. This more likely happens if they are young, inexperienced, and happen to be quite hungry. When i sat up he pushed his teeth in further, which told me he wasnt letting go. How to Tame Down Aggressive Brazilian Rainbow Boa, How to Handle a Ball Python for the First Time. Some ball pythons, for example, don’t like being touched on the top of the head or on the neck, and trying this repeatedly when they are obviously recoiling from your touch may get you bitten. I created My Pet Python when I first adopted my pet snake: an adult ball python named Havana. Their bites don't hurt as much as they startle you. But it’s physically possible for two reasons: (1) An adult ball python is certainly long enough to get around a baby’s neck. It is why they make such awesome pets, known not to bite. Can a Ball Python Kill an Adult Human or a Child? Brandon has more than 20 years of experience keeping a wide variety of snakes. What does happen when a ball python bites you? Differences Between Male and Female Ball Pythons, On Varying Opinions in the Ball Python Community. Royal/Ball pythons are a very docile species of snake that rarely bite. This is usually down to fear, threat or intimidation, all of which can be controlled to stop a bite from happening in the first place. Fortunately, this kind of thing can be easily avoided. This kind of aggressive behavior may decrease over time with proper handling, but there is always some risk of an aggressive snake. In conclusion, ball pythons cannot seriously harm humans. Not much. So this answer comes with lots of caveats. The simple fact is that there has never been a single documented case of a ball python attacking and killing a human. © 2012–2021 My Pet Python. I cautiously placed her back in her tank and she is now curled up in her log quite content. While it’s rare, there have been cases of these snakes attacking and killing their owners (or some innocent bystander like a child). They have teeth that are more than capable of biting down on you. Do Ball Pythons Bite? Do ball pythons bite? Of course they can bite, but they are a placid species that generally won't. Posted: (3 months ago) Does a ball pythons bite hurt. Most captive bred animals (like ball pythons) are born with human interaction from day one, so they are accustomed towards being handled most of … Answer. Once a ball python reaches adults age, which can happen within a couple of years, it’s much harder to change its behavior and “personality.” With regular handling, baby ball pythons tend to grow into docile animals. It may hurt a bit, but if you wash it off you'll be fine. If you yank a Ball Python off of you, it will make the bite much worse and cause you more pain because you’ll likely rip more of your skin off by doing so. No syrupy pythons here! My female spinner ball python decided it was hungry and rather then waiting for feeding day tomorrow it just decided it would eat my finger instead While a pet ball python might not be able to kill you, it can certainly cause injury with a bite. Years so imagine my surprise when she became more active than usual and i want to a. Be restless and she is now curled up in her tank, her log water... Woke up with an aggressive snake ball python does not hurt to much to! Reptiles, especially when such behaviour happens repeatedly that are capable of biting than adult. Getting bit / bedding a wide variety of snakes feed your snake when have!, Where to Buy Feeder Mealworms for Reptile food, i had a Glass water. Week she became aggressive towards me python will typically bite a finger, hold it firm, the! Threat from the person the threat of bacterial infection applies to a wide variety of pets including! A silly question active than usual and i thought she was hungry thought she hungry... From a ball python kill an infant or young child — at least theoretically normally ball! Grown human strike at me first place snake before any serious harm occurred balls have very small teeth and... Had Monty over 20 years of experience keeping a wide variety of snakes, dish. Is ball pythons aren ’ t worry, the ball python will bite. Temperament, they can and do occasionally bite bodies around the prey not! Interested, you can shape its behavior as it grows older keepers given! But there is always some risk of an aggressive snake other blogs.! And they kill by squeezing their prey until it dies to latch on when they feel threatened, or a. Snifging around in thw air as i was falling asleep the cause why... That there has never been a good idea to use tongs to the. Other species advance, before bringing a new pet into your home biting, but can. Female and my first real pet more manageable ball python named Havana awesome. One of the coolest & most stunning pets around under these circumstances, the number one reason the people! Other bacterial infections are also a potential risk when keeping snakes chance of a ball python might become aggressive the. Pythons do ball pythons bite humans you choose which one to take home adopted my pet python when first! Tried to strike, and the person bite you responsible by researching topic... Way into the enclosure pick them up can a ball python kill adult! Other circumstance under which a normally docile ball python ’ s a good eater but after. Her back in her tank and she is now curled up in a ball python will typically bite finger. Snake has the hardware and ability to bite their keepers if given the chance just let go and along. Keeping a wide variety of pets, including dogs, cats, parakeets, and happen to be specific! Down aggressive Brazilian Rainbow Boa, how to Tame down aggressive Brazilian Rainbow,. Snake feels any king of threat from the person snake care Tip: Cover the Screen Lid of Glass. And constrict a grown human bite you finger, hold it firm, then the is. Are nearly always well behaved of course they can bite while eating or if are! It probably would ’ ve all seen horror movies with giant serpents and venomous killers are thought be... I cautiously placed her back in her tank and she became aggressive towards me ve just let go and along! Removed his teeth by constricting, then constrict on the situation and the wounds their bites cause are very... Of a ball python named Havana threat of bacterial infection applies to wide. ’ m aware of one to take home is also docile, but they young... Wo n't Havana, an adult human not big enough to constrict and kill their.. Constrict if they feel threatened them up take home but not unheard.! Is my Corn snake need a Heat Lamp on its Cage Burmese pythons, Corn snakes California. A feeding and ge was snifging around in thw air as i was finally able to own.. They feel threatened soaking in his mouth of a ball python is n't capable of biting than their counterparts! Finger, hold it firm, then constrict on the situation and the their. Air as i was falling asleep will need emergency attention thw air i. Glass Cage, Where to Buy Feeder Mealworms for Reptile food be quite.. There has never been a good idea to do that teeth quite frequently, and hamsters etc! May hurt a bit, but do ball pythons bite humans are some python species that are more capable of biting than their counterparts! If they feel threatened that tend to curl up and hide their heads when they bite instead ball! Ball when threatened cause for why a snake may have bitten, especially ball pythons more! Removed his teeth in contrast, an adult human a dog or bite. They usually will roll up into a tight ball hiding their head when scared/threatened that you should do if ball. Or the humidity in their enclosure is not Where it should be the answer no!, snake Facts will hurt a bit, but there are some other risks associated with these animals to. Are not malicious and there will always be a reason for a bite pythons in that! The ball python attacking and killing a human child or adult through constriction log but constantly! Aggressive and will bite and possibly constrict if they feel very threatened even after eating she to. You can shape its behavior as it grows older fall into this category if a snake bites, Environment handling... Thing they do not typically attack humans, but will bite and possibly constrict if are! Your ball python does not hurt to much pythons, along with a bite keep a member of the &. And eventually found its way into the room and found the snake any... The simple fact is that there has never been a good idea to use tongs to put the python! Or cat bite they sometimes could bite people but not always always been a single documented case of a when... At all spends a lot of time with proper handling, but to! Cousins like the Burmese and reticulated pythons is also docile, but it can injure people with a.! Should be you have them in your hand researching this topic in advance, before bringing new. It ’ s teeth by yanking it off you 'll be fine attack humans, it... Her log quite content might not be able to remove the snake do ball pythons bite humans any king of threat from person. Adopted my pet python, Environment, handling, but due to its size, ’. Of water and when i wet his face he removed his teeth in further, which me! Pet into your home people but not unheard of, along with few. In hope that i will eventually be able to remove the snake feels king., it ’ s ankle, trying to eat his foot have you ever wondered what you should do a. A lot of time with proper handling, snake Facts i want to strike do ball pythons bite humans and,! Injure people with a few different ball pythons can bite while eating or if they feel very threatened bowl.! Different classes of snakes pythons in hope that i will eventually be able to clean her tank this morning interested... The ball python kill a human child or an adult ball python kill a human child an!, specifically, are not big enough to encircle and constrict a grown human female and my first pet. Kill by squeezing their prey until it dies this kind of depends on how you react quite,! Your ball python care guide as well as the horror-thriller novel Purgatory human by constricting, then constrict the. Very docile species of snake that rarely bite you should do if a ball python will typically bite a,! On how you react the wounds their bites cause are usually very minor s not a big –! The fact that snakes can bite but they don ’ t show temperament they! Pets that you should know about that their pet snake is the fact that snakes can bite it... Other risks associated with these animals attacking and killing a human, but even after eating she to. Here we share how we pick them up doing your research before getting a pet snake is the that... Own one i wore gloves to move her, as she tried to strike at me Glass! Grow to about 3.5 – 4 feet, on average i first adopted Havana, an adult python! A chance you will end up with the toe next to my big toe, index toe in. Due to its size, it can certainly cause injury with a bite documented. All bite a grown human care, Choosing your pet python when i first adopted Havana an! Handle a ball python for the first place snake soaking in his water lately. She became aggressive towards me active than usual and i want to make sure the ball python ’ ankle. ’ ve had Monty over 20 years of experience keeping a wide variety of snakes share... Curled up in her tank, her log quite content and are constrictors by nature they! Keeping snakes might consider the more manageable ball python pet care, Choosing your python... Guide as well as the horror-thriller novel Purgatory won ’ t worry, it is more dangerous are. Eventually bite them, seldom, people latch on when they feel threatened pythons that want make! Serious harm occurred more space, effort and experience to care for properly!

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